By Nkiruka Nnorom
South Africa’s Consul-General in Nigeria, Prof. Bobby Moroe, has said interest in his country remained high, with visa applications from Nigerians almost doubling in recent months, despite the persistent reports of xenophobic attacks.
Moroe stated this in an interview on Nigeria Info FM on Sunday, insisting that South Africa remained safe and opened for tourism, business and other forms of travel.
The reassurance came amid renewed concerns over xenophobic attacks in South Africa, where Nigerians and other African migrants have in recent months been targeted in pockets of violence across Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal and parts of the Western Cape.
The attacks, often fuelled by claims of job competition and criminality, led to looting of shops owned by foreigners, assaults and forced displacements, sparking outrage in Nigeria and across the continent.
In response to the escalating violence, the federal government said it facilitated the repatriation of over 1,400 Nigerians who were stranded or feared for their safety in South Africa.
Moroe revealed that the surge in applications showed Nigerians still see South Africa as a viable destination despite safety concerns.
The Consul-General dismissed claims circulating online that South African missions in Nigeria had stopped issuing visas to Nigerians, describing the reports as untrue.
“I just want to give reassurance that South Africa is open for business, South Africa is open for tourism, and South Africa is open for any other form of visit. And it is also untrue to suggest that South African missions in Nigeria do not offer visas to Nigerians anymore.
“But I can assure you and the listeners, that it is safe to travel to South Africa. I indicated during the beginning of the show that the number of visa applications have almost doubled,” he said.
Moroe urged prospective travellers to obtain the necessary visas before departure and to respect South Africa’s immigration laws.
“It is everybody’s responsibility to ensure that before you travel, you ensure that you have your visa, you comply with the immigration laws of the country, you become a good ambassador of your country,” he advised.
He also cautioned Nigerians to familiarise themselves with South African laws, understand their rights, and know the locations of law enforcement agencies in case of emergencies.
“When you get to South Africa, you know and understand your rights, but you must also familiarise yourself with the laws of the country.
“You choose places that you want to visit… and ensure that you also are familiar with the location of law enforcement agencies, just in case something happens,’’ Moroe added.
The Consul-General expressed confidence that bilateral visits between both countries would continue to grow, stressing that South Africa valued its relationship with Nigeria.
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